As the impact of climate change continues to make itself felt across Canada, every year brings new calls about an appliance many Canadians believed they would never invest in – the air conditioner.
If you don’t have any existing ductwork in your home, the prospect of doing extensive renovations to add ductwork, air registers, exhaust vents and a central A/C unit may sound understandably daunting.
But today there is another cooling option that doesn’t require installing any ductwork. This option is called the ductless air conditioner. Ductless units are feature-rich and are already popular in Europe and much of Asia – they have just gotten off to a slow start here on our duct-happy continent.
In this post, learn about the benefits of ductless versus ducted A/C and five reasons a ductless air conditioner can be the perfect choice.
Ductless Air Conditioner Features You Will Love
These are the features that consistently win ductless A/C units rave reviews from new happy customers.
Energy efficient
A certified Energy Star ductless A/C unit can trim up to 30 percent off of your annual cooling costs and up to 50 percent off of your annual heating costs.
Can cool and heat
If you opt for a ductless mini-split, this unit can cool your home during the warm season and keep you warm in the cold season.
Compact
Ductless A/C appliances are designed to be wall or even ceiling-mounted, so you don’t have to sacrifice valuable floor space.
Non-invasive
The installation of a ductless air conditioner only requires drilling a very small hole (no more than 3 inches across). This hole permits connection of the indoor and outdoor components by means of copper wiring. This naturally low-impact design is quite different from the invasive installation of a window unit or a central ducted A/C system.
Quiet
Because ductless air conditioners are mounted off of the ground and out of direct earshot, and they are designed to emit very little air leakage, they are naturally quite a bit quieter than window units and most ducted systems.
Secure and safe
Ductless units are far less vulnerable to vandalism, storm damage or theft, especially when compared to window units. Unlike a window unit, which allows thieves relatively easy access to your space through the window, a ductless unit leaves your home safe and secure. Ductless units are also more conducive to well-being. Unless regularly cleaned, ducts collect dust, toxins, microorganisms, insect debris, pet hair and dander, and other allergens that can cause health-related issues when blown back out into your indoor air through the vents.
Eligible for tax credits and rebates
If you are upgrading from an older air conditioner or full HVAC system to a newer, high-efficiency ductless system, you may be eligible for energy efficiency rebates or credits at tax time – be sure to ask your contractor before you purchase your unit!
5 Great Reasons to Consider a Ductless Air Conditioner
While considering a ductless air conditioner is always a great idea, there are certain times when choosing this style of air conditioning for your home can make especially good sense.
1. You are adding on to your home
For homes with existing ducted air conditioning systems, making the choice to add on to your square footage can present some ductwork challenges. This is especially the case for older homes where older ductwork may not be so resilient to rerouting.
A ductless A/C unit can be easily installed in any new space, whether it is a home office, garage apartment or newly finished basement.
2. Your family always fights over the thermostat
It is not uncommon for family members to have different preferences for indoor cooling. But when this consistently leads to fights over the thermostat, home is not always a restful place to return to!
A ductless A/C unit can accommodate up to four individual zones, each with its own thermostat controls, to give family members control over their own cooling needs.
3. You are installing A/C for the first time
One of the best times to consider installing a ductless system is when you are adding A/C for the first time, whether during new construction or as an aftermarket addition.
Because ductless A/C and heating can trim a substantial amount off of your annual energy costs, it is a smart choice for a first-time A/C system.
4. You want to downsize your space
As you move through life, you may need to upsize or downsize your home space to reflect different life stages. One common change is when empty nesters want to reduce heating and cooling bills by consolidating home usage to just one or a few rooms.
This is a great time to consider installing a ductless system rather than facing thermostat imbalances that may lead to humidity and mould over time.
5. You have a “special needs” room
Is there one frequently-used room in your home – perhaps the kitchen, the bathroom or the laundry room – that is always hotter than all the rest? You don’t want to freeze the rest of the home just to get this area cool enough, but that can sometimes seem like your only option.
A ductless A/C unit can readily provide customized cooling for these “problem spaces” without impacting your cooling bills for the rest of the house (or giving rise to complaints from shivering family members elsewhere in your home space)!
Is a Ductless A/C System Right for You?
Are you ready to learn more about all that ductless air conditioning systems have to offer?
Here at Shipton’s Heating & Cooling, we are proud to carry the Daikin line of single- and multiple-zone ductless air conditioners and mini-split HVAC units.
No matter your needs or your price range, we are confident we will have a ductless system that is a perfect fit for you!
Get in Touch
Contact us online or give us a call at 905-549-4616.
